Adjustable button for boot and shoe lasts.



PATENTED MAY 12, 1908.

Q J. B. MONROE.- ADJUSTABLE BUTBON FOR BOOT AND SHOE LASTS.

I No. 887,214.

APPLICATION FILED SEPT. 25, 1907 uzm/ JAMES B. MONROE, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ADJUSTABLE BUTTON FOR BOOT AND SHOE LASTS.

Application filed September 25, 1907.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 12, 1908.

Serial No. 394,500.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMEs B. MONROE, a citizen of the United States, residing in the city and county of Denver, State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Adjustable Buttons for Boot and Shoe Lasts, of which the following is a specification.

The object of my invention is to provide improved means for adjusting the position of the projecting buttons used upon boot and shoe lasts, for the pur ose of stretching the leather at the articu ar point desired. A device of this 'nd is illustrated in Patent No. 838,146, granted to John O. Stivers December 11, 1906.

In the drawings Figure 1 is a top view of a last provided with an adjustable button. Fig. 2 is a side view of the same. Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3 of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 is a view of the several parts forming my improved button, the parts being ready for assemblage.

My improved adjustable button ma be ap lied to any of the ordinary forms of oot an shoe lasts. The form illustrated is one in common use, and as the means for expanding the last in the shoe are old and wellknown, a detailed description thereof is unnecessary for the purposes of this description.

The last illustrated consists of two sections, 1 and 2, hinged together at 8. As fully set forth in the specification of the Stivers patent above referred to, it is frequently desirable to stretch the leather at the particular part ofthe shoe where its pressure is felt, either owing to the ,existence of a corn or bunion upon the foot or other cause. In order to effect this purpose, it is necessary to provide an adjustable and removable projection u on the last, and my invention is concerne with the means for securing the button in its adjusted position. It is generall desired to secure extra stretching of the eather at some point along the side of the forward part of the shoe. I have, therefore, illustrated the last as being provided with a groove 4 extending along the forward part thereof. Over the groove 4 is mounted a countersunk slotted plate 5, the inner edges of which project inwardly over the groove 4. The button 7 is rovided with a shank 8, the shank being 0 long in cross section and having its greater diameter coincide with the long diameter of the oblong button 7 The shorter diameter of the shank 8 is substantially equal to the width of the slot 9 in the plate 5, this construction being adopted for the purpose of permitting the shank to slide back and forth in the slot, but

at the same time preventing it from rotating therein. By this means the long axis of the button is ke t in alinement with the slot 9. The end of t e slot 9 is enlargedas shown at 10for the purpose of permitting the entrance of the enlarged head 11 formed on the end of the shank 8. The head 11 being passed through the opening 10, the button may be slipped to any part of the slot 9, but cannot be Withdrawn therefrom without being returned to the opening 10.

Mounted upon the shank 8 is a Washer 12 and a spiral spring 13, one end of the spring being seated against the inner side of the button 7 and the other end against the washer. By this arrangement the washer 12 is forced outward toward the head 11. The washer is preferably made somewhat larger than the opening 10. When the button is placed over the opening 10, therefore, the head 11 may freely pass through said opening, but the washer 12 is'prevented from doing so. Upon applying pressure to the button, the spring 13 may be compressed until the head 11 has been depressed sufficiently to permit it to slide beneath the overhanging edges 6 of the plate 5. When the button is relieved of pressure, the spring 13 will cause the head 11 and washer 12 to firmly embrace the o posite surfaces of the plate 5, thus secure y holding the button in its adjusted osition.

While I have illustrated a specific embodiment of my invention, other structures embodying the same idea might be devised, and I therefore consider my invention as including broadly the structures set forth in the ap ended claims.

' hat I claim is:

1. A last provided with a groove, a proj ecting button having a art adapted to contact with the Wall of said groove, and means for forcing said part against said wall and thus securing the button in position.

'2. A last provided with a groove, a lip projecting over said groove, a button, a shank on said button, and fixed and movable projections on said shank, said rojections engaging opposite faces of said ip.

3. A last provided with 'a roove, a lip projecting over said groove, aImtton, a shank on said button, a fixed projection, and a jecting from the sides of said groove, an oval spring pressed projection on said shank button having a headed shank, and a spring adapted to engage opposite faces of said lip; pressed washer upon said shank, the head of 4. A last provided with a groove, lips prothe shank and the washer engaging 0p osite 15 5 jecting from the sides of said groove, an oval sides of said lips, and the shank being 0 long button, a shank on said button, said shank in cross section, whereby it is prevented being oblong in cross section, a head on the from rotating.

end of said shank, a washer mounted on said JAMES B. MONROE. shank, and a spring tending to force said Witnesses: n 0 Washer toward said head. VERNE COATES,

5. A last provided with a groove, lipspro- J. S. SEELEY. 

